Britain is seeking to change the rules of European renewable energy targets to make it easier for the United Kingdom to fulfil its commitments.
Only 3% of the UK’s power comes from renewable energy, but ministers have agreed to make this 15% within 12 years. To help reach this goal, the government has started lobbying the European Union over the way the target is calculated.
At a closed session of the EU council of energy ministers last month, the UK’s Business Minister, Lady Vadera, proposed that British investments in renewable energy anywhere in the world should count as part of the country’s effort.
In a speech that astonished European renewable energy companies, environment groups and other EU energy ministers, she said: “It is imperative that cost-efficiency is at the heart of our approach. … Demand for renewable energy projects outside the EU should be considered [part of the renewable energy target].”
She also appealed for all EU countries to be allowed to count carbon “saved” from coal-fired stations fitted with equipment that captures greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity generated by this “clean coal” would then count as renewable energy and go towards UK national targets. “Member states might be further incentivised to support carbon capture projects if they were allowed in some way to contribute to the 2020 [renewable] targets,” she said.
Environmental groups regard both proposals as a way for Britain to put off or scale back increasing renewable energy through wind farms, hydroelectric and solar energy initiatives.
Last year the UK’s department of business tried to dilute EU renewable targets. Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a rethink on renewables when leaked papers from the department appeared in the Guardian newspaper.
Renewable energy companies and environmental groups have reacted with alarm. “This would kill renewable energy in Britain,” said Dale Vince, chief executive of EcoÂtricity, Britain’s biggest wind farm company. “It makes a mockery of any attempts to address climate change. If it were possible to build projects anywhere in the world where planning is lax, nothing would be done in the UK.”
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace, said: “This would allow a UK minister to lay the foundation stone of a power station in China and say it counts as our contribution to European renewable energy targets.”
“Yet again Britain is found trying to evade its environmental responsibilities,” said a spokesperson for the environment group WWF.
The proposals have heightened concern among the groups that the UK is heading for a massive nuclear power programme. British Energy Secretary John Hutton argued last week that the country should not just replace existing nuclear plants but expand its nuclear and coal industries.
Last week’s state visit by France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that the powerful French nuclear industry will be encouraged to develop at least four nuclear power stations in Britain.
Critics argue that nuclear power and renewables in Britain are mutually exclusive because both need government support to succeed. — Â